Teen Arrested After Throwing Cat in Viral Video

A 16-year-old boy was arrested after being caught on video throwing a cat. The fall broke the cat's leg and the boy now faces animal abuse charges. (Published Monday, Dec. 4, 2017)

A cat named Spots was recovering in an Inland Empire animal hospital on Sunday after a graphic video of the cat being thrown was posted to the internet over the weekend.

Police in Ontario, California, are investigating the case of animal abuse.

The graphic video lasts less than 10 seconds. A young man first lifts the cat with both hands, then flings it high into the air. The cat can then be seen hitting the ground, clearly in pain.

The video posted to social media on Friday has gone viral. Officers with the Ontario Police Department went door to door in the neighborhood where they believe the incident happened after calls poured into the police station, sparking outrage from people not only in the Southern California city, but around the country.

Spots is a stray she found four months ago. After being rushed to an emergency clinic, it was determined that Spots suffered a broken leg.

The cat now has a cast on one leg and wrapping on her other front leg. The vet says irregular blood tests suggests she suffered internal injuries as well. She'll stay at the animal hospital so that vets can monitor her progress.